NBA: 5 undervalued rookies who have already proven they belong

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (21st pick)

21.0 MPG, 11.0/2.6/2.7, 51.2% eFG

If there is one word to describe Tyrese Maxey, it’s relentless. I remember watching one of his games at Kentucky where, at the end of a close game, he refused to be kept out of the lane. Possession after possession he attacked the basket, took contact, and either finished or picked himself up off the floor to go shoot free throws and win the game. He’s brought that same relentlessness to the Philadelpiha 76ers.

Offensively, Maxey fills what has been a glaring need in Philadelphia for awhile now, which is that they’ve lacked a dynamic guard that can create a shot when their offense gets bogged down in the half court. Maxey’s ability to get into the paint creates easy offense for a team that has been prone to scoring droughts, and if his outside shooting and passing continue to develop they could have a high-level scoring guard on their hands.

Defensively, Maxey showed up as a high-level on-ball defender from day one. He has a strong base and shows an ability to defend the ball in pick and rolls that not many players his age have developed yet. His limitations can show up when he is forced into switches, where his 6-foot-3 frame can be exploited by bigger guards and most wings, but he projects to be a quality on-ball defender for a long time.